Canadian Eskimo Dog

Canadian Eskimo Dog Overview

This is an ancient breed of sled dog that originated in the Canadian Arctic. It is a powerful breed with an impeccable strength and stamina, built for long distance travel rather than swiftness. It became popular with Arctic explorers as a sled dog that could pull the greatest amount of loads over long distances with a minimum amount of food. The Canadian Eskimo Dog is also known by the name Qimmiq to the Inuit. This primal dog is gentle and affectionate. Its physical appearance is that of a typical spitz dog, having a broad and muscular neck, broad chest, strong and well-boned legs and powerful build built for hard, long distance work. It has a large skull, a tapered muzzle, and obliquely set, dark eyes. It has short and triangular ears with slightly rounded tips that are carried erect and facing forward. The ears are covered with dense short hair that acts as protection against snow. The body of the Canadian Eskimo Dog emphasizes a breed with a lot of power and endurance. It also has large, round feet with thick pads and hair in between the toes as added protection when running in and out of the snow. The tail is large and bushy, set moderately high and carried up or over the back. The double coat is made of thick and dense undercoat with hard and stiff guard hairs for double protection and can be almost any colour. The outer guard hairs are between 8-15 cm in length. Males sport a mane over their shoulders and neck. An adult dog is between 58-70 cm and can weigh between 30-40 kg while an adult female is around 50-60 cm in height with a typical weight of 18-30 kg.

Canadian Eskimo Dog Characteristics

Intelligence

Intelligence

All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.

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Exercise Needs

Exercise Needs

All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.

Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.

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Dogs Health

Dogs Health

There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.

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Child Friendly

Child Friendly

There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.

Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.

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Apartment

Apartment

There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.

Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.

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Shedding

Shedding

All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.

If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.

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Grooming Needs

Grooming Needs

All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.

Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.

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Barking

Barking

Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.

Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.

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Alone

Alone

Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.

Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.

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Trainability

Trainability

There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.

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Energy Levels

Energy Levels

All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.

High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.

Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.

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Dog friendly

Dog friendly

Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.

There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.

Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.

Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.

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Thinking of buying or adopting
a Canadian Eskimo Dog?

History & Origin

The Canadian Eskimo Dog (or Canadian Inuit Dog) is a primitive breed and is in fact considered to be one of North America’s oldest remaining indigenous purebred. This breed came from Siberia with the Thule people some one thousand years ago. It was used by the Canadian Inuit to hunt seals, bears and other Arctic game as well as a working sled dog to pull supplies and people. It was once assumed that the Canadian Eskimo Dog was a tamed wolf-dog hybrid by explorers but genetic testing proved that this dog has no modern wolf lineage. There were an estimated 20,000 of these dogs in the Canadian Arctic during the 1920s but their numbers dwindled when the popularity of sled dogs diminished due to the introduction of snowmobiles as a means of transportation. Selective and continuous breeding programs since the 1970s have kept the breed from extinction but it still remains one of the rare breeds of dogs we have in existence today, with just an estimated 300 remaining, although the number is steadily rising. A genetic study of dogs done in 2015 revealed that the Canadian Eskimo Dog and the Greenland Dog are genetically identical.

Temperament

Although it is an ancient breed, the Canadian Eskimo Dog has been a part of the everyday lives of humans for well over a thousand years. Its temperament reflects the characteristics of a true working dog – tough, courageous, intelligent, loyal, and alert. It is so tough that it can survive in extremely cold temperatures outside the house, although it will suffer in temperate climates and may suffer heat stroke. It is a brave animal and will stand guard against intruders and can be vocal at times. This intelligent dog is easily trainable and can recognize commands with just a few repetitions. It is highly affectionate and loyal that it forms a deep bond with its owner.

Training

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a powerful breed, born to pull heavy loads and will gladly go all day in harness. This intense need for work makes the Canadian Eskimo Dog excellent to train for dog sports such as canicross, bikejoring, weight pulling, rallies, treks, mushing or skijoring. In the United Kingdom, CEDs are trained to join in many events organised within forestry commission lands which gives the owner/trainer and the dog miles of trails to run. Backpacking is also a popular activity to train the CED for. The owner/trainer can train the dog to carry his own water or food and supplies during longer walks or camping trips in the wild. Dog agility is also a sport where the Canadian Eskimo Dog can excel.

Grooming

The CED has a hard, wiry outer coat and a dense inner coat that helps protect the breed in extremely cold weather. Caring for the breed requires a moderate amount of time. Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and will keep the coat healthy as well as help remove matting from the undercoat. This breed only requires bathing a few times a year. If kept as a pet, dry shampoo is recommended to keep the coat smelling fresh and clean.

Health

The Canadian Eskimo Dog has no known serious genetic disorder to date, but some health issues and diseases have been observed in some dogs. These include:

Cryptorchidism – is the absence of one or both testicles from the scrotum;

Hip dysplasia – the abnormal function of the hip joints;

Cataracts – found in several CEDs which can lead to blindness;

There are also other reported health concerns that affected some dogs including detatched retina, Addison’s disease, allergies, fertility problems and cancer. This hardy breed has a life expectancy of 11 to 13 years.

Exercise

In a true northern fashion, the Canadian Eskimo Dog loves to work and will not do well if it does not get proper and adequate physical and mental stimulation. This breed needs a very large amount of exercise time and is well-suited to an active owner who loves the outdoors. Walking will not satisfy this hard-working dog because it needs high-intensity physical workouts. It is not a dog that will live comfortably in an apartment or condominium life. A perfect home for this breed is a large house with a large yard where it can play and run all day without getting restricted.

Children and other pets

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is an affectionate and loyal breed but it is not generally suited for younger kids. It will generally do well to a home with older kids who knows how to handle a dog properly. This breed works in a pack when pulling a sled so it will go along quite well with other canines in the house.